Whether or not Manny Lopez would remain as president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines will be known today when the country?s governing body in the sport holds its elections in Makati City.
Lopez has been at the helm of ABAP for quite some time, his stint marked with victories as well as failures in major international competitions. He said yesterday he?s willing to step down as president if the board says so.
?It depends on what the board wants. If they want me to stay, then I?d stay. If they want me to go, then I?d go. As I?ve said, I just don?t want to be the source of disunity here,? said Lopez over the phone.
?I work under the pleasure of the ABAP board. If the board decides that they don?t want me anymore then it?s time for me to say goodbye ? quietly,? he said on the eve of the elections held every four years.
A few names have cropped up as possible replacements for Lopez ? former Davao del Sur Congressman Tony Boy Floirendo, North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol and PLDT/Smart executive Ricky Vargas.
But under ABAP rules, only those who are members of the board can run as president. The elections are set at the Tiara Oriental Hotel in Makati City at 4 p.m.
?Only members can run. But again, it depends on the board,? said Lopez, adding that there are 17 voters within the board. If a new president emerges today, it?s very likely that Lopez will still occupy a key position.
Lopez is running as vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee under the ticket of incumbent president Jose Cojuangco, and he can only run if he is either president or vice president of ABAP.
Lopez came under fire recently following the country?s dismal performance in the Beijing Olympics where its lone representative, lightfly Harry Ta?amor, failed to get past the opening round.
But it was also under Lopez that amateur boxing in the country shone brightest. He was barely warming up in his post when Onyok Velasco won the silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
In the 2006 Doha Asian Games, ABAP also produced two gold medals courtesy of flyweight Violito Payla and bantamweight Joan Tipon. The Philippines won two other gold that year through billiards and wushu.
